SK Gov’t Boosts ‘Maker Movement’ For New Industrial Trend

South Korean government released a new set of measures to promote the so called "Maker Movement" due to its potential to create new industrial trend that will lead to startups.

According to the Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, the term "Maker Movement" refers to a social trend where anyone's creativity and innovation can make products and new ideas due to the availability of information and widespread access to technology.

The announcement about the "Maker Movement" was made after the Cabinet meeting was presided over by South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn. According to the ministry, they will support individuals and groups for all the processes starting from the pre-production and production of a pilot product. They will also look on the creative ideas at the creative economy innovation centers in South Korea.

The innovation centers are designed to match up local startups and venture firms with conglomerates that can give resources to smaller firms. In that way, they can transform creative ideas into real business opportunities. The ministry said the center will act as a platform by giving access to tools, information and resources needed to innovate, develop and design a maker's ideas.

"The government will extend support so that every person's hobby eventually leads to a new economy. People can realize their creativity and start up their business, which is the centerpiece of the creative economy," ICT and Future Planning Minister Choi Yang-hee said.

Furthermore, the ministry said it will provide programs to educate the makers in certain categories of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) as well as educate them in using different kinds of software related to the field. They will also launch promotional campaigns both online and offline, so that the makers will be familiar with the culture that is relatively unfamiliar in the country.